Best Hotels & Lodges

Tucked down a leafy cul-de-sac, just off Cape Town's famously buzzy Kloof Street, this collection of six beautifully-restored cottages and apartments is the kind of place you want to keep to yourself. With buildings dating back to the late 1870s, the décor is all about custom wallpapers, chandeliers and Cape Colonial colour palettes, with a good dollop of added South African warmth. There's no reception desk, no communal lobby and no fuss; just a dedicated concierge, impeccable finishing touches and a front door that opens onto one of the Mother City's best-fed neighbourhoods. Table Mountain looms above, Camps Bay's beaches are a quick drive away, and breakfast is a one-minute stroll to the end of the street.

Tintswalo Atlantic is tucked away by the ocean at the foot of a winding private driveway below the famous Chapman’s Peak. Sheltered in a pebbled cove in Table Mountain National Park, Tintswalo looks out across Hout Bay, just a few minutes’ drive from this lively harbour town, yet feels remote and secluded. This boutique hotel is an opulent tribute to its stunning natural surroundings, skilfully crafted from timber and glass to make the most of its spectacular coastal setting. Ten suites, plus a vast hillside double suite, offer lavish accommodation in a beautiful spot within easy reach of Cape Town and its endless attractions.

Welcome to Luwela Camp, an authentic safari sanctuary nestled in the secluded slopes of Makoma Hill in the heart of Tanzania’s Central Serengeti. As the sister property to the renowned Lake Duluti Lodge, the camp blends warm hospitality with an immersive wilderness experience.

It's prime location is the epicenter of a vibrant ecosystem, celebrated for its incredible density of resident wildlife. Unlike other regions that rely on seasons, the Makoma Hill area offers phenomenal, year-round game viewing, ensuring that every day is an opportunity to witness the Serengeti's untamed drama, from the legendary Big Five to the more than 500 species of birds that grace the skies.

Hippo Trails Camp provides accommodation under canvas in large classic style tents with on demand hot water and flush toilets. The tents, elevated on wood platforms, are fashionably decorated with comfortable furnishings including a king size or twin beds, a writing desk, luggage racks and a sitting area with chairs and coffee table.

The location, quite near Retima Hippo pool, is a perfect launching point for wildlife viewing to most of the hotspots in northern and central Serengeti. Leave camp after breakfast with a picnic lunch and spend the day exploring, or get an early start and leave with breakfast, returning to camp for lunch and an afternoon siesta.

The Wayo Serengeti Green Camp North is a seasonal camp which follows the main wildebeest events. This camp is located in the northern section of the Serengeti where herds follow the rain showers, leaving behind the drying volcanic plains in the south. The wildebeest track through the corridor where our camp resides to reach the Mara River where they cross back and forth between the months of July and October. These Mara River regions are densely populated by tourists and camps so we prefer to be tucked quietly away from others to enjoy solitude. The river is still accessible for our guests on their daily game drives. The Wayo Serengeti Green Camp features beautifully designed tents sewn by local teams located on the boundary of Arusha National Park. With a picture-window of mesh at the front of the tent, you can lie on your bed and enjoy breathtaking 180 degree panoramic views. Encased in a beautiful stretch canvas overhead, tents sensitively blend into the landscape whilst also providing shade and privacy. The ensuite bathroom is enclosed and covered with bucket showers and low-flush toilets. The camp prioritises adventure, authentic safari experiences, and ecotourism. You will love the personalised service and prime access to some of the world's best game viewing.

Palazzo was transformed into a cabinet of Italian art and beauty, where curious travelers quickly find themselves very much at home. Located just minutes from Piazza del Popolo, guests pass through the doors straight into the vibrant swirl of the centro storico. Once enriched by the city but in need of refreshment, they are welcomed back to a stylish sanctuary featuring a secret garden, a rooftop bar, and the highly inventive San Baylon restaurant

A boutique hotel with 8 spacious and luxurious suites: an ideal residence for wine lovers who can find here a wide and refined selection of over 1,500 references and a team capable of creating a tailor-made experience. Each Suite offers a personal wine cellar with a selection of wines to taste directly in the room with the Coravin system.

All the suites are very bright and characterised by a décor that recalls the Italian style of the Sixties. Each room features a fresco painted by Andrea Ferolla depicting iconic Roman landscapes and views. The particularly spacious bathrooms feature elegant black tiles and retro-style sinks.

Rome has no shortage of fancy hotels, but few feel as alive as this one. Occupying three connected palazzi on Via Sistina, literally at the top of the Spanish Steps, the building spent centuries hosting European nobles on their Grand Tours before becoming a hotel in the 1920s. In 2019, Rocco Forte gave it a head-to-toe transformation that's bold, colourful and full of wit, without ever losing touch with its magical 18th-century bones. Celebrity chef Fulvio Pierangelini runs the kitchens, the rooftop draws Romans and visitors alike, and the location is within a few minutes' stroll of pretty much everything. It's polished, buzzy and thoroughly Roman.

Over the past few years, Hyatt has made serious inroads in Japan and the Grand Hyatt Tokyo's location, tucked into the heart of the international Roppongi district, is fantastic. Plugged directly into the sprawling Roppongi Hills complex (think 250 shops, restaurants, galleries and an observatory), you're ideally positioned for exploring Tokyo's electric neighbourhoods - and most highlights are within 20 minutes or so by subway. And with 387 mahogany-clad rooms, 10 restaurants spanning French bistro fare to legendary steakhouse cuts, an indoor red granite pool, and the serene Nagomi Spa, there's plenty to do back at your (very slick) base.

With a lobby on the 25th floor of the Shiodome Media Tower, the Park Hotel couldn't be better situated for getting under the skin of Tokyo. Right by a subway station - and only 5 minutes from the Hamamatsucho monorail station - it’s easy to enjoy the full scope of Japan's capital, from the mind-boggling lights of Shinjuku to the serenity of the Hamarikyu Gardens (they're just a 10-minute stroll away). Back at the hotel, prepare to be awed by the incredible artwork: not only does the hotel rotate the art installations in the lobby almost every month, there is an entire floor that has been completely transformed by the work of a Japanese artist.

Poised at the gateway of the legendary W Trek, this authentic estancia delivers front-row seats to nature's grand performance. The Kusanovic family has called this dramatic corner of Patagonia home since the early 20th century, transforming their working ranch into an adventure-seeker's paradise. From the cosy lounge, floor-to-ceiling windows frame those impossible-to-ignore towers, while the property's own organic garden and farm supply the kitchen with its distinctly Patagonian flavours.

At the very edge of the earth, where the vast steppe meets imposing mountains, this striking wooden structure curves organically along a bluff overlooking a glacial lake. The design is nothing short of genius – local lenga wood bends and flows with the landscape rather than fighting against it, creating a cocoon of comfort from which to observe the wild drama unfolding outside. Step through the doors, and you'll discover forty elegant suites, all positioned to maximize those jaw-dropping views of the pampas and the iconic massif beyond. This is where intrepid adventurers rest their weary legs after days spent exploring one of the world's most spectacular national parks and where the ever-changing light creates a different masterpiece on the landscape every hour of the day.

Nestled on the edge of the world-renowned Torres del Paine National Park, Estancia Cerro Guido stands as a beacon of Patagonian heritage and natural beauty. This sprawling estancia (ranch) offers a unique blend of rugged wilderness and cozy luxury, inviting guests to step back in time to a simpler, more connected way of life. With its historic architecture, stunning vistas of the Paine Massif, and a working farm atmosphere, Cerro Guido provides an unparalleled experience. Guests can immerse themselves in the rhythms of ranch life, enjoy horseback rides across vast pampas, and relax in rooms that whisper stories of yesteryears, all while being enveloped by some of the most dramatic landscapes on the planet.

Kichwa Tembo Camp, like its sister Bateleur Camp, lies in the western Mara in a private concession that has been leased from its Maasai landlords. Fewer visitors come to this region, although the landscape is filled with wild animals all year, so you're assured more private viewings. The camp lies directly in the path of the annual Great Migration and, in season, you're likely to get the best sightings of the stampeding animals crossing the Mara River, the stuff of documentaries worldwide.

Positioned in Patagonia's adventure capital, this welcoming base strikes the perfect note between comfort and practicality. The spa provides much-needed muscle relief after glacier hikes, while the artisan bakery's morning aromas could tempt even the most determined mountaineer to linger over breakfast. It's refreshingly unpretentious, focusing instead on the essentials that matter after a day in the wild.

In the popular Botafogo neighbourhood, the hotel offers spectacular views of Sugar Loaf Mountain and Corcovado (Christ the Redeemer). Reach the shops, bars, artisans, and restaurants of Arnaldo Quintela Street in a short drive. Botafogo Beach is within walking distance. Enjoy the rooftop bar or locally-inspired cuisine in the extremely popular restaurant.

When "new beginnings" is both the meaning of your name and your daily reality, you're onto something special. Tucked on a pristine island in the mighty Zambezi, this intimate eight-tent camp offers that rarest of safari experiences: complete isolation but still with a good dose of luxury. Reached only by boat after a game drive through Zambezi National Park, the lodge is sheltered by centuries-old baobabs where elephants occasionally pop by for breakfast. Between sundowner cruises, guided canoeing adventures, and game drives teeming with elephant herds, you'll discover why it can boast about having David Attenborough-level guides...

Just a short drive southeast of Anderson Gate, this newly minted lodge sits rather cleverly on a 5,000-hectare private reserve that shares a 10-kilometre border with famous Etosha National Park. The location is no accident – it's a masterstroke that allows you to dodge the crowds whilst still being on the doorstep of one of Africa's greatest wildlife spectacles. The approach via a curved timber walkway through grassland and twisted trees instantly sets the tone for what's to come. This isn't just another pretty lodge – it's a front-row seat to the African bush.

Perched on a hill, overlooking a watering hole, this lodge boasts excellent views and a variety of activities, including guided game drives into the southern part of Etosha National Park, plus walks and drives on their private Ongava Concession. With 14 thatched stone chalets, it is one of the larger lodges of this price bracket, with less emphasis on communal dining, although that is an option too for swapping stories. A secluded pool with loungers is a lovely spot to relax between safari activities, and their Hide is a great place for close encounters with thirsty wildlife at the watering hole.

Enter into a pampered paradise at the Four Seasons Seychelles resort. Occupying one of the best locations on the island of Mahé, almost every one of the uber-luxurious Creole-type villas has a stunning view of the blue waters of Petite Anse and the surrounding granite cliffs, encircled by lush tropical jungle bordering the horseshoe bay. Here you will find Indian Ocean hospitality at its best, in a dynamic landscape of rock, forest and beach that will entice your senses and dish up a holistic holiday experience. Beautifully curated villas and suites emulate island opulence with a high end Indian Ocean/ African feel.

Idyllic and utterly dreamy come to mind when arriving at the Mango House for the first time. Located in the deep south of the Seychelles' capital island, Mahé, the Mango House gazes out across miles of liquid blue stretching towards the horizon. Born out of the creative mind of esteemed photographer, Gian Paolo Barbieri, the house is all about aesthetics with its light and art-filled rooms, and walls of glass so you never miss a moment of that view. They didn't hold back when it comes to dining options either and there are five stellar spots to choose from.